He was born on March 13, 1884, in
Utica, New York, the son of Nicholas Edward Kernan (1845–1902) and Harriet Anne (Jenkins) Kernan (1846–1923). He was an investment broker. Kernan was a member of the
New York State Assembly (Oneida Co., 1st D.) in
1923. On September 25, 1925, he married Katharine Covenhoven Clarke (1886–1969), and they had three children, among them journalist
Michael Kernan (1927–2005). He was a member of the
New York State Senate (36th D.) in
1933 and
1934; and was Chairman of the Committee on Affairs of Villages. He died on December 15, 1953, at his home in
Manhattan Beach, California. U.S. Senator
Francis Kernan (1816–1892) was his grandfather. ==Sources==